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Terrace continues to record the most new COVID-19 cases in northwest B.C., despite drop from previous week

Terrace recorded 61 new cases, down from 88 the week before
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There were 61 new COVID-19 cases reported in the Terrace local health area during the week of Oct, 24, to Oct. 30, 2021. (British Columbia Centre for Disease Control)

Terrace recorded the most new COVID-19 cases between Oct. 24 to Oct. 30 than any other local health area (LHA) in northwest B.C. for the third week in a row.

New cases in the Terrace LHA dropped to 61 new cases, down from 88 reported during the previous week (Oct. 17 to Oct. 23). Kitimat reported 12 new cases and Prince Rupert’s number of new cases decreased from 33 to 26, according to the latest British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data.

Meanwhile, Smithers saw 54 new cases reported in its LHA. There was one new case on Haida Gwaii and 17 in the Nisga’a LHA. There were four new cases in the Snow Country - Stikine - Telegraph Creek LHA.

The BCCDC figures for cases in the Nass Valley may differ from the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority’s (NVHA) statistics because of differences in the way those organizations report cases.

In response to a recommendation by the NVHA, the Nigsa’a Lisims government endorsed a pause on cultural gatherings for three weeks, starting Oct. 29 to Nov. 19.

There were 13 new cases in the Upper Skeena LHA. Farther east, there were 33 new cases in Burns Lake, 15 in Nechako and 168 in Prince George.

In Smithers, five inpatients have tested positive and one of those patients died in connection to a COVID-19 outbreak at the Bulkley Valley District Hospital. The outbreak declaration does not include the maternity section of the inpatient unit.

The hospital is under enhanced outbreak control measures and monitoring.

According to the BCCDC, Kitimat has hit 90 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — the only LHA in Northern Health higher than the province-wide average of 85.5 per cent on Nov. 3.

See the Nov. 2 two-dose list below, the per cent change from the previous week is indicated by brackets:

Kitimat - 90 per cent (+2)

Haida Gwaii - 84 per cent (+1)

Nisga’a - 83 per cent (+2)

Prince Rupert - 82 per cent (+1)

Snow Country - Stikine - Telegraph Creek - 80 per cent (+1)

Terrace - 78 per cent (+1)

Upper Skeena - 75 per cent (+0)

Smithers - 72 per cent (+2)

Between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31, unvaccinated people accounted for 64.4 per cent of cases and between Oct. 18 and Oct. 31, they accounted for 72.4 per cent of hospitalizations.

During a press conference on Nov. 1, Health Minister Adrian Dix said that 3,325 health-care workers have been placed on unpaid leave because they are unvaccinated against COVID-19. Dix said that as of midnight Oct. 31, 122,059 of the 127,448 health-care workers – or 95.8 per cent – who have worked at least one shift in last three months are fully vaccinated. Another 2,064 are partially immunized.

Four per cent, or 32o Northern Health workers are unvaccinated, according to Dix.

Northern Health is booking appointments and offering drop-in clinics for first and second doses. People in Prince Rupert can visit the CORE Space Thursdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m

In Kitimat, people can get vaccinated at the Kitimat General Hospital Multi-purpose Room and should phone to check on clinic dates.

The Terrace Health Centre is taking drop-ins on weekdays between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information or to book an appointment, visit the Northern Health website or call 1-833-838-2323.

— With files from Katya Slepian